Healthy Schools Program Evaluation, 2006-2011 (ICPSR 33541)

These data were collected for the evaluation of the Healthy School Program (HSP), which provides support to elementary, middle, and high schools in the United States as they work to create healthy school environments that promote physical activity and healthy eating for students and staff. HSP was created in 2006 by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The HSP evaluation addressed both process and impact outcomes:
Is the HSP technical a... (more info)

These data were collected for the evaluation of the Healthy School Program (HSP), which provides support to elementary, middle, and high schools in the United States as they work to create healthy school environments that promote physical activity and healthy eating for students and staff. HSP was created in 2006 by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The HSP evaluation addressed both process and impact outcomes:

Is the HSP technical assistance and training model effective in increasing the implementation of policies and programs that promote and provide access to healthier foods and more physical activity before, during and after school?

Are there distinctive or common school-level characteristics that hasten or hinder school-level implementation of policies and programs that promote and provide access to healthy foods and physical activity in the school setting in HSP schools?

Does participation in HSP contribute to an increase in healthy eating behaviors and physical activity participation among students? Does participation in HSP contribute to a decrease in body mass index (BMI) among students?

The evaluation used a mixed-method design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative components. The quantitative component of the evaluation was a longitudinal design that measured student changes in eating and physical activity behaviors and BMI and schools' implementation of policies and practices promoted by HSP. For the qualitative component the evaluation team conducted site visits to a sample of schools from the initial (2006-2007) pilot cohort of schools. Additional program engagement factors and demographic factors were measured in relation to outcomes.

The first file contains data on school characteristics, HSP engagement indicators, baseline and follow-up responses to the Healthy Schools Inventory, and indices derived from the Inventory for all schools in HSP as of August 2011. The Inventory collected information about each school's adherence to the Healthy Schools Program Framework, a set of best practice guidelines that promote physical activity and healthy eating among students and staff.

The second file contains baseline and follow-results from the Pilot Student Survey, which was administered to a sample of schools from the initial pilot cohort of HSP schools. In both waves, students in grades 5 to 12 completed the Healthy Schools Youth Survey, a questionnaire developed by RMC Research with items on students' eating and physical activity habits, health knowledge, and demographics.

The third file contains baseline and follow-up height and weight measurements and derived BMIs for students in grades 4 to 12 in virtually the same schools as the Pilot Student Survey. Height and weight were measured by nurses.

Lastly, the fourth file contains baseline and follow-results from the Survey of Students in Boston and Miami-Dade Public Schools. Administered to 5th, 8th, and 10th grade students in a sample of schools from the 2007-2008 cohort of HSP public schools in Boston, Massachusetts and Miami-Dade County, Florida, this survey also used the Healthy Schools Youth Survey questionnaire.

As explained in the ICPSR Processing Note at the beginning of the codebook, ICPSR restricted many variables from general dissemination for reasons of confidentiality. Users interested in obtaining these restricted data must complete an Agreement for the Use of Confidential Data, specify the reasons for the request, and obtain IRB approval or notice of exemption for their research. Apply for access to these data through the ICPSR restricted data contract portal, which can be accessed via the study home page.;

Survey of Students in Boston and Miami-Dade Public Schools: 2007-2008 cohort of HSP schools in Boston, Massachusetts and Miami-Dade County, Florida (30 schools in Boston and 92 in Miami-Dade County).

Data Types:
administrative records data,
survey data

Data Collection Notes:

It is not possible to track individual students over time in the Pilot Student Survey Data File, Pilot Student Height and Weight Measurements Data File, or Survey of Students in Boston and Miami-Dade Public Schools Data File.

The Inventory Data File can be merged with the Pilot Student Survey Data File, Pilot Student Height and Weight Measurements Data File, and Survey of Students in Boston and Miami-Dade Public Schools Data File by matching on common identification variables.

Variables on school characteristics in the Inventory Data File were taken from the National Center for Education Statistics' Common Core of Data.

Methodology

Sample:

Pilot Student Survey: Stratified random sample of schools. Both waves of the survey were administered to all students in Grades 5-12 during a single class period or over the course of a week selected by school administrators.

Pilot Student Height and Weight Measurements: Same stratified random sample of schools as the Pilot Student Survey. At each school's discretion, the data were collected from either all or a random sample of students in Grades 4-12. In most cases, the students' height and weight were measured during a single day or over the course of a week selected by school administrators.

Survey of Students in Boston and Miami-Dade Public Schools: Stratified random sample of schools. Both waves of the survey were administered to all students in Grades 5, 8, and 10 during a single class period on a single
day or over the course of a week selected by school administrators.

Time Method:
Longitudinal

Mode of Data Collection:
on-site questionnaire,
web-based survey

Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of
disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major
statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to
these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection: